The smallest bar in Europe

Monday 30 May 2011

I recently visited Manchester to attend the Travel Bloggers Unite Conference (TBU11 Manchester) and got quite impressed by its vibrant nightlife. There are attractions for every taste and every age: trendy restaurants, fashionable or alternative bars, pubs, clubs, discos, live music venues. Whatever your preferences, one place you shouldn't miss is TheCircus Tavern, claiming to be the smallest bar in Europe. I couldn't guarantee that it is the smallest but as for being small... it really is!

The smallest pub in Europe

The building dates back to 1790, when it was a butchery, and was transformed into a pub around 1840. Two little rooms, with no more than 4 or 5 tables each, and a minuscule bar counter in the corridor. The walls are covered by photos, not the usual framed pictures but ordinary photos of the regulars, including many Manchester United famous footballers.

The Circus: Photo Wall

There's nothing fashionable at The Circus with its old spoilt tables and worned leather seats. And that's exactly what makes it a wonderful place: it has character and every inch speaks of its history, largely made by the pub 'habitués'.